Effects of fodder-rape intercropping in the alpine region

To establish a suitable rape intercropping pattern in an alpine region, we used Brassica campestris as the dominant species, which is a major crop used for edible oil, and incorporated this with Hordeum vulgare, Avena sativa and Vicia sativa. We analyzed the morphological characteristics of the shoot biomass, forage quality and inter-species relationships. As the results shown, the height of the oats, which was lower than rape, had no impact on the rape landscape during the bloom period. The shoot biomass had increased by 37.27% in the rape-oat intercropping system compared to the rape monoculture. The intercropping application had not effect on the nutrient content of the fodder-rape. Concerning about both of the tourism and field production, we suggest the extension of the intercropping system of rape with oats in the alpine regions.